Ceiling covering and apparatus for suspending same



G. L. ELY

Nov, 29, 1955 CEILING COVERING AND APPARATUS FOR SUSPENDING SAME Filed Feb. 15 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 29, 1955 ELY 2,725,126

CEILING COVERING AND APPARATUS FOR SUSPENDING SAME Filed Feb. 15, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 42 112 72 Inuenzaw Nov. 29, 1955 G. ELY 2,725,126

CEILING COVERING AND APPARATUS FOR SUSPENDING SAME Filed Feb. 15, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet s 62 fltmfii INVENTOR.

BY 1 m.

azm

United States Patent CEILING COVERING AND APPARATUS FOR SUSPENDMG SAME George L. Ely, Hopkinton, Mass, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Sylvania Electric Products Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Massachusetts Application February 15, 1949, Serial No. 76,496

3 Claims. (Cl. 189-88) This invention relates to apparatus for covering ceilings, more particularly to a novel suspension means for ceiling panels by means of which the decorative effect of a ceiling may readily be changed and panels may conveniently be adjusted either vertically or horizontally.

Frequently in old buildings, the ceilings of the rooms are rendered extremely unsightly by the presence of numerous fixtures of various kinds, such as sprinkler pipes and air ducts; likewise in the case of newly constructed buildings, it is a major problem to devise means for concealing necessary piping fixtures, as well as air conditioning systems and the like. In the past one methodhas been to provide large between-spaces in the floors to accommodate such pipes. Another expedient has been to provide permanently installed panels arrayed below a conventional ceiling with the individual panels cemented together or otherwise permanently joined. Both of these methods have the disadvantages of being extremely costly and not at all adapted to adjustment once they have been installed. Furthermore, since the ceilings of many older buildings are rough and uneven the installation of such ceiling coverings entails costly architectural calculation and fabrication to attain an acceptable finished appearance.

Permanent ceilings have the further disadvantage of being poorly adapted to the accommodation of variable combinations of lighting fixtures or acoustic absorption members. major operation to alter the lighting system to correspond with changes in the lighting requirements within the room. Furthermore the installation or removal of sound absorbing equipment generally entails a complete renovation of the ceiling. Another disadvantage experienced with conventional ceiling coverings is the maintenance problem. Due to the permanent nature of the panel suspension it is practically impossible to enter the space between conventional coverings and ceilings for repairs or cleaning.

Therefore it is an object of my invention to provide a ceiling covering of attractive appearance which may not only be useful in covering the unsightly pipes, ducts and fixtures of conventional ceilings but also be readily adapt able for adjustment or alteration.

it is a further object of my invention to provide a ceiling covering fully capable of providing passage for ducts, pipes, fixtures and the like so that the floors of newly constructed buildings may be constructed as simple weight-supporting members without regard to the provision of space for ducts, wires, pipes, or the like.

An additional object of my invention is to provide means for suspending panels from a conventional ceiling which will be readily adjustable horizontally and vertically and also permit ready interchange of the said panels.

in the accomplishment of these objects, I employ, in a preferred embodiment of my invention, symmetrically matched ceiling panels and suspend them from the conventional ceiling joists by depending hangers. The panels Once they have been installed, it becomes a align adjacent to each other to form a continuous ceiling covering but have clipped or indented corners providing small openings through which the hangers pass.

It is a feature of my invention that the hangers support the weight of the panels from below without being rigidly secured to the panels. This is done by means of a support ring which extends laterally from the hangers under the adjacent corners of the panels. Thus, the panels may readily be removed by simply lifting the panels off the support rings, tilting the panels and lowering them through the panel space.

It is an additional feature of my invention that the panels are held firmly against lateral relative motion by upstanding lugs on the retaining rings. The lugs fit into appropriately located apertures in the panels adjacent to the panel corners, and hold the panels together. However, the lugs do not prevent independent panels from being lifted for removal or change.

It is an additional feature of my invention that the hangers are slidably connected to the ceiling joists by means of channel guide bars for horizontal adjustment.

Still another feature of my invention lies in the provision of a threaded member connecting the lower part of the hanger to the upper part of the hanger for vertical adjustment. The said lower part of the hanger extends below the panel support ring and is provided with a laterally extending flange or shoulder upon which the support ring rests. The ring, however, is independent from the hanger which may be rotated from below to raise or lower the panel corners, without disruption of the panels.

Further objects and features of my invention will best be understood and appreciated from a detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof, selected for the purposes of illustration, and shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective, from above, of the paneled ceiling covering of my invention,

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the panels, the hangers, and lighting fixtures used in conjunction therewith,

Fig. 3 is a plan view of ceiling panels used in conjunction with the hangers of my invention,

Fig. 4 is a sectional view in side elevation of the hangers of my invention illustrating its adjustable feature,

Fig. 5 is an exploded view in side elevation of the bracket and support ring of my invention,

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the members shown in Fig. 5,

Fig. 7 is a sectional view in side elevation along the lines 77 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 8 is a view in end elevation of another embodiment of the hanger of my invention,

Fig. 9 is a view in side elevation of the upper end of the hanger shown in Fig. 8,

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the panel support ring shown in Fig. 8, and

Fig. 11 is a sectional view in side elevation along the lines 11-11 of Fig. 10.

In a preferred embodiment of my invention I employ channeled guide bars 10 secured to the joists or structural members of a conventional ceiling (not shown). The guides 10 are preferably of tubular metal construction having in their bottom a longitudinal channel opening 12. Suspended by the guides 10 are a plurality of hangers including pendants or rods 14 and flanged brackets 26. The rods 14 are threaded at their upper ends to receive flanged nuts 16 which serve to retain the pendants 14' within the guides 10. The flanged nuts 16 extend laterally across the openings 12 of the guides 10 and when secured to the upper ends of the rods 14 prevent the rods 14 from dropping out of the guides 10, but at the same time permit horizontal movement of the rods 14 along the longitudinal axis of the guides 10. p

The lower ends of .therods 14 are threaded and conneat .to appropriately tapped upstanding shanks 28 .of .the brackets 26. The brackets .26 protrude below the ceiling panelsand are provided with a laterally extending flange 2.7 ".Whlfih serves to support panel support rings A as will be described "below. The :brac'kets 26 may :be adjusted vertically by simply iturning them from .helow, .and \may -be zlocked imposition .of adjustment .by lack nuts 29 on the rods 14 bearing against the upstandingshanks 28.

Various :types of ceiling panels may 'be employed and .are indicated generally in Fig. 3 at 18, 20, 22 .and 24. The :panel 518 represents what is generally known in the trade as .a :louvre panel, consisting in .a continuous recztangular :peripheral :frame member .30 constructedof sheet metal and disposed on edge. Secured to :the frame '30 is ;a series of sheet .metal strips .or lattices I32lsimilar1to the side-frame :30 .but notched at intervals ato receive similar strips '35 :laid at right :angles to the strips .32 to :form .a .crosslattice. Each .of the'lattices Bland 35 are provided --with short :flanges .33 bent at right angles to the .lattices .and spot welded'to the frame '30 for the purposes .of supporting the said lattices .32 and .35 within the frame .30.

*The panels 18 are provided with oblique .corners for the purpose of=accommodatingthe hangers and retaining rings 40 as will be further described below.

The .panel 20 is .of rectangular shape withsimilardi- :mensions to the :panel 18 and may be constructed of plywood or other suitably .obdurate and opaque substance. -Each of the rcorners of the said panel .20 .is obliquely clipped and further provided with a small'perforation 34.

The ipanellti may the .used to supportacentrally .mounted luminaire indicated generally at 36 of conventional .construction providinga spotlight or screened :lighti-ng as desired.

The panel 22 is of similar construction to the panel .20, including perforations 34, but may preferably be :made of --a translucent material, such ,as Lucite and colored with various shades and hues as desired.

The;panel-24 is opaque and ofsimilar construction-and shape to the panel 20, including perforations 34, :and may preferably mount upon its .underssurface a-sound absorbing member 35.

lt will belevident from the structure -.-thus.describe d that tween their adjacent corners and that the shank 28 of the bracket 26 extends-upwardthrough this opening. For the purposes of supportingthe corners of thesaidtpanels, and :of prevening random lateral movement of .the same, I provide a support ring .40 having upstanding lugs 42. The

support ring .10 is independent from the bracket 26 'but vfits around the shank .28 of the bracket 26 and rests upon the flange 27. The upstanding lugs 42 of the retaining --ringr40 fit-into .thenotches 34 of the panels 20,;22 and'24,

and fit inside of the corners of the frame .30 of the louvretype :panel 18. The flange .27 .of the \bracket 26 may be formed in the shape of a roughly rectangular, four cornered star, extending laterally underathe corners of the panels. The upper surface of the flange 2. 7 is provided ..with a shallow recess .44 for the purpose of receiving the retaining ring 40 and to allow the outer ends of the-flange 30 to set upwardly adjacent to the .under surface of the panels.

Another hanger :for the ceilingcovering of .my invention is illustrated .in Figs. 8, 9, .10 and 11 and includesadouble angle link 5.0, 2. depending rod 60 and a panel support -.ring.62. The .link v50 -.isirnade of .metal plate andds bent to form a verticalside wall 52, an upper horizontal flange 4 screw head 64 for the purpose of suspending the support .uug iz and fo rotatin the rod 11 .tc radi a adjustmen The support ring 62 fitsaround the rod 60 and rests upon the laterally extending shoulder of the screw head 64. The support ring 62 is similar to the support ring in its function of supporting the panels, and it is likewise provided with upstandi g lugsfifi which corresp n to the lugs 42 of the ringfit). However, since the screw head 58 is relatively small and the under surface of the support ring 62 will .be exposed to vi w :beneath the ceilingpanels, the support ring .62 ;is @formed .in .the shape of a four cornered star as illustrated in Fig. 10 for decorative purposes.

It will be seen that the hanger -illustrated in Figs. 8, 9, l0 and 11 may conveniently .be :adjusted vertically by turning the rod 60 with a screw driver below the panels.

The installation of the ceiling covering of my invention will beevident from the apparatus th s d scribe :Th guide :hars i l) ar -.fir.st ,-.i.n, t 1 .d in ap rop ia e .p a e i athe ceiling jois Then the hangers are connected to the guide bars 10., and a juste h i o t lly O Q I to theidimens ns o th .p l wh um 'vfrihe hangers-have :beenthus installed, the panels ;.are then individually elevated teapositipn above the support rings .40 {(or @2 as appropriate) and lowered ,down upon the lsaidnupportrings with the lugs .42.(.or;66 astappropriate) -fittingiintorthe p rfora ion .34 in he-pan ls- In he, c e of ilouvre type panels 18, of course, the upstanding lugs :will enter thecorner openings of the panels. In thisposition {the gpauels will merely rest upon the support rings from which they may readily be removed, .but {they will be :held :against random relative la teral motion .by the saidupstanding l g 42 or -.66. furthe mo 'l -Pfl may-.readilygbe-adiusted vertically by-simplymotating the zb'rackets;26 ,or-ithe mods .60. With vsuch an arrangementa panel .ceiling coveringmay be installed and adjusted to :provide a perfectly even ceiling without -thenecessityof .costlyarchitectpral calculations and fabrication regardless vthepanelsls illl, llantl 2.4 when placedend-to ,endand sidesto .side .Wlll leave :asmall rectangulanopening -3 8 beof ;the .roughnesspf the supporting ceiling.

whenpa .ceiiling cov ring om ngf u re p el 18. is supported by either of the above described hangers, lighting fixtures 46, of the fluorescentpr incandescent :type may-he mounted upon atraveling .ducts of .convcn- :tional-structure indicated gener y a hu p ng .a source rof ilig'htiand allowing ready positioning of such lights to meet varyinglighting requirements within the room.

It .will 'be evident from the description of this preferred embodiment of my invention that it provides a convenient and variable paneled ,ceiling arrangement. Th6' flOQIS.0f a buildingequipped with this device need not be constructed with large between-spaces but can be designed purelyzfromtheestandpo nt 0f supp Air ditioningducts ;or other installation pipesimay be conveniently hidden by the panels so supported.

The panels ot my. invention .can .be readily removed for maintenance purposes, or cleaning, and particular y maybe readily interchangeable .with other types of panels to [meet ithe dictates of fashion or changes in lighting requirements.

Certain minor variations will be apparent to those skilled .in the art. Forinstance, the -.flanges 27 .of the brackets 26 needmot .be iintthe shape ,offour. cornered stars, :thepanels needlnot be rectangulanandthecorners ofthe panels .need notzbe obliquely clipped. Furthermore, the panels need not be adjacent alongall .sides, :but may readily abut corner to corner .or be suspended alone. Therefore, it is not intended to confine the invention to the precise zlirnits .of .the :preferred embodiment herein shown, ibut ratherto measure it .in terms of the appended claims.

Having thus .described .and :disclosedan illustrative em \hodimennof .my invention. .what 31 claimas new and desire to. secu e .by Letters ,r Paten lo th iUnit .Sta

.. .rl. Atcefling erin marina in. .c nqlhinat cnpanek with clipped corners, the said panels being in abutting relation end to end and side to side whereby their clipped corners form openings between the adjacent corners; walls defining small apertures adjacent each corner of said panels; vertically adjustable hangers connected to the ceiling and protruding below the panels through the said openings including two members joined by a threaded connection, whereby the hanger may be adjusted vertically by rotation of the end of the hanger which protrudes below the panels; and means including a ring resting upon the hanger, independent therefrom, and having upstanding lugs fitting into said small apertures, supporting the corners of the said panels and retaining them against relative horizontal movement.

2. A covering for ceilings having in combination symmetrically matched panels with clipped corners, the said panels being arrayed end to end and side by side and forming a continuous ceiling covering having small openings where the said clipped corners lie adjacent to each other; Walls forming small apertures adjacent the said clipped corners of said panels; means suspending the said panels from the ceiling comprising guide ways secured to the ceiling, depending rods the upper ends of which are slidably mounted in the said guide ways, support brackets adjustably connected to the lower ends of the said depending rods through the openings between the corners of the panels, and means including a ring independent from the said support brackets resting on said support brackets and having upstanding lugs fitting into the said small apertures supporting the adjacent corners of the panels and connecting them together whereby the suspension means may be adjusted vertically without disruption of the panels.

3. A covering for ceilings having in combination symmetrically matched panels with clipped corners and small apertures adjacent to the said clipped corners, the said panels being arranged end to end and side by side and forming a continuous ceiling covering having small open spaces where the said clipped corners lie adjacent to each other; means suspending the said panels from the ceiling comprising depending rods connected to the ceiling, support members adjustably connected to the lower ends of the said depending rods through the openings between the corners of the panels, and a retaining ring independent from the said support members having upstanding lugs thereon fitting into the said small apertures in the corners of the panels and connecting the adjacent corners of the panels together whereby the suspension means may be adjusted vertically without disruption of the panels, and the panels may be independently removed by lifting them so as to clear the said upstanding lugs, tilting them, and lowering them through the panel space.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,723,621 Jewell Aug. 6, 1923 2,056,359 Marty Oct. 6, 1936 2,340,911 Urbain Feb. 8, 1944 2,376,279 Schlenkert May 15, 1945 

